Los Angeles health officials warned residents on Saturday of health risks posed by smoke from massive wildfires raging through suburbs of the second-largest U.S. city, urging them to avoid going outside.
Fires of monstrous proportions have been causing massive destruction in the megacity since the beginning of the week, as a result of which toxic clouds are released.
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“We are all exposed to wildfire smoke, which is a mixture of fine particles, gases and vaporized water,” said Anis Mahajan, of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, during a press conference.
“It’s these tiny particles that get into our nose and throat and cause sore throats and headaches,” he continued.
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“In areas where smoke is visible or where the smell of smoke is strong, even where you can’t see it, we know the air quality is poor, so you should limit any exposure to the outside as much as possible,” he added. Dr. Mahajan.
According to him even people in good health should stay indoors as much as possible and use air filtration systems. Those who must work abroad should wear masks that filter out microparticles, he recommended.
The young, the elderly and the sick should take extra care, he insisted.
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Multiple wildfires around Los Angeles charred vast swaths of land, destroying homes, businesses, vehicles and vegetation. Which means that plastic materials, chemicals, fuels and construction materials were burned, dispersing toxic micro-particles into the atmosphere of the highly populated area.
Last Friday, Los Angeles County declared a state of health emergency because of the smoke and banned the use of machines such as blowers, which can disperse dangerous ash.
Within five days, wildfires in the state of California left behind at least 11 dead, while more than 12,000 homes and more than 150,000 acres of vegetation were reduced to ashes.
Source: www.zougla.gr
